Our kiddos are learning their numbers, so we’re always searching for ways to encourage counting. Smithsonian Folkways is such an amazing resource for children’s music (and every other genre) and recordings by artists who span the globe. We looked to the Folkways collection for a few new counting songs knowing we’d likely find something, and guess what? We did. Ella Jenkins is an artist we’d heard of and remember from our childhood. She’s been recording and working with children for decades introducing rhythmic instruments, sounds, basic concepts like counting and calling on kiddos to use their memory. Released in 1990, “Counting Games And Rhythms For Little Ones” is a compilation of  classic songs like “Two Little Black Birds,” “One Potato, Two Potato” and games that help children learn to count. Jenkins interacts with the children in this recording candidly and respectfully, making singing about numbers fun. Kiddos love it, so do we. Available on CD, $15.00, cassette, $10 and download $9.99, here.